Cardiovascular
Partnered with top research groups, our efforts at St. David's Heart Hospital and Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute aim to advance care through pioneering therapies and diagnostic technologies.
St. David’s HealthCare is affiliated with some of the leading cardiovascular research groups in the United States. Our extensive cardiovascular research program consists of more than 100 research studies ranging from structural heart devices, medications, therapeutics, and implants to treatments for atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and cardiac rehabilitation.
Heart and vascular research
St. David’s Heart Hospital of Austin is a leading research center engaged projects ranging from local investigator-initiated pilot studies to landmark multi-center international trials. Areas of active research include:
- Peripheral and coronary angiogenesis, including research involving gene transfer, growth factors and stem cell therapy
- Stem cell therapy for limb salvage in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease and myocardial repair in patients with recent myocardial infarction
- Stem cell research for patients with myocardial infarction
- Validating the use of stents versus traditional endarterectomy surgery for the treatment of carotid artery stenosis
- Advancing diagnostic testing capability through advanced lab testing, genetic studies
- Nuclear/PET testing, intra-vascular ultrasound (IVUS), and optical coherence tomography (OCT)
- Testing new medications for hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, congestive heart failure, anti-coagulation, and anti-platelet therapy
Electrophysiology
The Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute (TCAI) at St. David’s Medical Center is an internationally renowned research center specializing in heart rhythm disorders. Patients come from all corners of the globe to seek treatment and to participate in ongoing trials and clinical research led by our team of electrophysiologists who provide patients with access to the latest, most innovative electrophysiology care and research. Current active research areas include:
The Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute (TCAI) at St. David’s Medical Center is an internationally renowned research center specializing in heart rhythm disorders. Patients come from all corners of the globe to seek treatment and to participate in ongoing trials and clinical research led by our team of electrophysiologists who provide patients with access to the latest, most innovative electrophysiology care and research. Current active research areas include:
- Advanced ablation strategies and technologies to improve the safety, efficacy and outcomes for atrial fibrillation patients
- Safety of anticoagulants during ablation procedures, optimal anticoagulation strategies in populations at risk for stroke, and long-term trends of anticoagulation in the atrial fibrillation population
- Left Atrial Appendage closure and related devices to investigate protection against stroke
- Studies of renal denervation to modify hypertension and treat atrial fibrillation, and to suppress ventricular tachycardia in defibrillator patients
- Smartphone technologies for medication compliance and adherence
- Basic biological research using induced pleuri-potent stem cells from patients with atrial fibrillation
- Genetic bases of atrial fibrillation related stroke and heritable arrhythmia
- Long-term atrial fibrillation and health trends in patients with Brugada syndrome
- Impact of weight-loss on ablation-outcome in the atrial fibrillation population
- Effect of anxiety on ablation-outcome in women
- Cognitive impairments in atrial fibrillation patients undergoing ablation or medical management
- Improvement in exercise capacity and endothelial function after catheter ablation in chronic AF
Office of Research
Please contact the Office of Research if you have interest in collaborating with St. David’s.